For most men, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), the medical term for an enlarged prostate, is a common side effect of aging. By the age of 60, over 50 percent of men suffer from BPH, and by the age of 85, the number climbs to a staggering 90 percent. With BPH, many men experience frequent trips to the bathroom, trouble starting a stream of urine, and leaking/dribbling of urine throughout the day. Since so many men will experience symptoms of BPH or have already been diagnosed with the condition, it is important to understand what an enlarged prostate is and what effects it has on the rest of the body. Read on to find out just how BPH can be the cause of urinary problems and ways you can treat these symptoms.
How Does BPH Cause Urinary Problems?
The prostate is a small gland (roughly the size of the walnut) that is located just in front of the male rectum and below the bladder. The urethra runs through the center of the prostate and carries urine outside of the body.
When the prostate grows, it adds pressure to the urethra and begins to block the flow of urine. As the urethra begins to narrow, the bladder is then forced to use more pressure, or contract more, to help push the urine through the constricted passageway.
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| Normal vs. enlarged prostate. |
Over time, the growth of the prostate will cause the bladder to become more sensitive, causing the person to have to release urine even if the bladder is only partially full. Since the prostate is still growing, there will come a point in time where the bladder will not be able to push the urine through the urethra effectively, and the bladder will not be able to empty itself completely.
Symptoms of BPH
Because of the way BPH affects the bladder and urethra, it’s easy to see why some men experience symptoms such as incomplete bladder emptying or a weak/slow urinary stream. Some more common signs and symptoms of BPH are:
- Difficulty starting to urinate
- Straining to urinate
- A urinary stream that starts and stops
- Urinating frequently
Once you’ve reached the point where your bladder does not empty, you automatically become vulnerable to contracting a urinary tract infection. In more severe cases, you become susceptible to bladder stones, incontinence, or the complete inability to urinate.
How Is BPH Treated?
In extreme cases, such as BPH that makes you unable to urinate, it is very important to see your doctor immediately. When left untreated and unattended, BPH can easily develop into a medical emergency.
However, for those suffering from BPH symptoms and looking to manage the growth of their prostate, incorporating exercise, a change of diet, and the right medication into their everyday routine can be all that it takes to get treatment for BPH. Using a combination of urinary and prostate medication can help alleviate the discomfort while also ultimately attacking the source of the problem.
Before taking any medications, be sure to talk with your doctors. Although very serious, BPH is a condition that can be managed with the right plan in place.
